Methoxy is foxy — Recent advances with Ni(COD)2

Aromatic methoxy-groups are peachy. Synthetic chemists can use them as directing groups for regio-selective lithiations, Friedel-Crafts acylations or halogenations, to name a few basic concepts. Medicinal chemists seem to dig methoxy-groups too, because they can pick up new hydrogen-bond interactions, and increase steric bulkiness, pKa and log P.

Yeah… we all love the good ol’ methoxy – until the day arrives when we for some reason need to delete it. It may be one click away in ChemDraw, but synthesis-wise, it’s always been a multi-step pain in the ass.